beyond Jerusalem Recalculating for Mission Recalculating for Mission

Church in Charge Confident!

Oops

When the Bridge is out Recalculat e!

Recalculating Recalculate the Kingdom of God is at hand. Matthew 4 Use the Correct Map

Using the Right Map Three different worlds (contexts) in which we live and serve as God’s people Pre-church Churched Post-church

Three Mission Contexts: Three different Maps

Using the Right Map Each mission/ministry context has its set ofEach mission/ministry context has its set of Cultural “Insiders” Cultural “Outsiders”

Who? Where? When? What’s the starting place? Answered by Cultural Insiders Using the Right Map

It is essential to know which world we are in order to serve effectivelyIt is essential to know which world we are in order to serve effectively Are we cultural insiders? Are we cultural outsiders?

Cultural Insiders/Outsiders CulturalInsiders Protect Boundaries Cultural Outsiders Permeate Boundaries

Cultural Insiders/Outsiders Are we the cultural insiders? Are we the cultural outsiders? That depends upon the context

Pre-Churched Context Non-Christians are Cultural Insiders Christian Missionary is a Cultural Outsider The Church has no identity, thus no credibility

Churched Context Christians are Cultural Insiders Non-Christians are Cultural Outsiders The Church is essential to the community

The Churched World We Assumed Significant for LC-MS Congregations 500 years of Confessional Focus Defenders of the true faith in the midst of religious error Sense of permanence Sense of theological and cultural objectivity

Post-Churched Context The Non- Christians are Cultural Insiders The Christians are Cultural Insiders

Post-Churched Context The Non- Christians are Cultural Insiders Can we choose to become outsiders once again? once again?

Post-Churched Context The Non- Christians are Cultural Insiders Can we choose to become outsiders once again? once again?

Recalculating

The Post-Churched Map Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. (John 12:24)

Post-Churched World Three greatest challenges to moving toward missions Moving from teacher/defender to learner Willingness to “unlearn” without compromise Moving from primarily Minister to equipper for and overseer of ministry

Post-Churched World Three steps in permeation Learner (Listener) Trader Story Teller (Proclaimer)

Who? Where? When? What’s the starting place? Answered by Non-Christians Post-Churched World

What are the starting places? First Article BridgesFirst Article Bridges Bridges go two waysBridges go two ways Asking the Gate KeepersAsking the Gate Keepers Partnering with communityPartnering with community

Post-Churched World Focus on the unchurchedFocus on the unchurched High engagement with the unchurchedHigh engagement with the unchurched Maintain a porous boundary with the unchurchedMaintain a porous boundary with the unchurched Operate with Several Word gifts (Eph. 4)Operate with Several Word gifts (Eph. 4) Unchurched > EvangelistsUnchurched > Evangelists >Churched > Pastor/teacher >Both > apostle, prophet Develop Little structureDevelop Little structure

Post-Churched Context Church and culture Assumption: Strong institutional loyalty (cultural value) Reality: Weak institutional loyalty, even among the churched Decreased investment in the institution Increased investment in personal relationships

Post-Churched Context What are our cultural assumptions underlying “Catechetics”? Role of church Role of society Society still “disciples” its children Why are so many young people leaving the church and not coming back? Where, when, and how will discipleship take place?

Relationship Distinctives Relationships center in truly loving my neighbor Relationships require genuine commitment Relationships may not translate into congregational membership.

Place #1 Place #2 Place #3 RELATIONSHIPS & 3 RD PLACES

“Nones” on the Rise Importance of Shared Community % saying belonging to a community of people where your value and beliefs is...

Church Membership Churched Culture Order Believe>Behave>Belong Post-Churched Order Belong>Behave>Believe Cause>Belong>Behave>Believe

Discussion How would our congregation look at itself if it were a New Testament congregation– a lone small church located in a pre- Christian community possibly hostile to the Gospel?

This presentation is shared by permission of Dr. Robert Newton, President of the CNH District of the LCMS. If you have any questions or comments concerning this presentation, please direct them to Dr. Newton at lcms.org or call lcms.org